Making Lankan chemists globally marketable

Dhanushka’s mother appears to be very happy listening to College of Chemical Sciences Dean M.R.M. Haniffa passing his wisdom to Dhanushka

Dhanushka Tennakoon from the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (ICC) becomes the latest student to transfer to a US university assisted and guided by the Scholarships for USA Ltd. (SUSA). Dhanushka was recently accepted to Truman State University in Missouri with a generous scholarship and 100% credit transfers. This is one of many transfer programs initiated by SUSA between Lankan and US educational institutes making Lankan academics globally marketable at a cost affordable to most Lankans.

In October ‘08 SUSA brought University of Cincinnati (UC) and the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, the largest producer of Lankan graduate chemists, together on an Institutional Collaboration Agreement (ICA) paving the way of Lankan chemists to transfer to UC to earn a bachelor’s in chemistry in two years. The decision to accept 100% credits of ICC took almost a year (with constant follow up by SUSA) and once agreed it became a huge blessing for young chemists aspiring to become globally marketable. 

The UC connection opened up many paths for Lankans; for those aspiring to continue in the academic field they could proceed to graduate schools across US to earn Masters or Doctoral (most of the time with ‘full rides’) and for those looking for career paths to complete paid internships and becoming eligible to be employed globally. There were other benefits too; each student, based on academic standings were offered generous scholarships, part-time work and paid internships upon graduation running up to 30 months.

Passionately committed to make US education increasingly affordable to Lankan middle class and taking note that the cost of UC had been rising considerably each year since ‘08, SUSA began searching for more affordable schools for ICC transferees with same transfer conditions of UC and in June this year was delighted to introduce Truman State University to ICC. Truman is an academically excellent, very affordable school with a fine reputation which agreed to generous scholarships, part-time work and paid internships for Lankan chemists. 

Established in 1867 and named after the only Missourian to become a President of US, Truman State has been ranked as the # 1 Public University in the Midwest for 17 consecutive years; ranked 12th on Kiplinger’s list of the 100 ‘Best Values in Public Colleges’; ranked 9th in the nation for the best out-of-state value; is one of only 27 Public Liberal Arts and Sciences Universities in North America. And as per Rob Franek author ‘The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges’ Truman is the Harvard of the Midwest. 

Sri Lanka is among the top 7 countries where 361 students from 45 countries are currently studying at Truman. With an average class size of 24 students and with 16:1 student-to faculty ratio every student is getting the best attention at all times. SUSA which has been partnering with Truman since ‘11 has placed scores of undergraduate students there and all of them have been very impressed with the quality of education and the quality of life in Kirksville.

Asked to evaluate SUSA’s services Dhanushka said; “I got to know them through a batch-mate who was the first to transfer to Truman and she updated me regularly what a great school it is and how affordable. SUSA wasted no time in getting me in and from day one I knew I was in safe hands. The fees charged were very reasonable and I have no hesitation recommending them to anyone.”